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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 376105105
Report Date: 05/22/2023
Date Signed: 05/22/2023 03:57:13 PM

Substantiated


STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 7575 METROPOLITAN DR STE 110
SAN DIEGO, CA 92108
This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
05/15/2023 and conducted by Evaluator Keturah Lane
PUBLIC
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 51-CC-20230515135158
FACILITY NAME:TAPROOT MONTESSORI PRESCHOOLFACILITY NUMBER:
376105105
ADMINISTRATOR:MARGARITA CAMARGOFACILITY TYPE:
850
ADDRESS:1431 EAST BROADWAYTELEPHONE:
(619) 444-0131
CITY:EL CAJONSTATE: CAZIP CODE:
92021
CAPACITY:58CENSUS: DATE:
05/22/2023
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
11:05 AM
MET WITH:Margarita CamargoTIME COMPLETED:
04:15 PM
ALLEGATION(S):
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1. Facility is operating out of ratio
2. Facility is allowing unqualified staff to provide care and supervision to day-care children.
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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On 5/22/23 at 11:05 AM, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Keturah Lane conducted an unannounced initial 10-day visit for the complaint received on 5/15/23 regarding the above allegations. Upon arrival, LPA met with staff member Ms. Areli Mendez and toured the facility. At the time of LPA's arrival, children were playing on the playground outside. LPA observed 16 toddlers with Director Margarita Camargo on the toddler playground and 33 preschool age children with staff members Ms. Areli Mendez and Ms. Aylin Zamora. At 11:15 AM, Owner Nicole Hall arrived at the facility. LPA obtained staff files from the owner and reviewed staff files at the facility. LPA also interview staff members, director and owner.

(continued on LIC9099-C...)
Substantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Monica Cuddy
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Keturah Lane
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 05/22/2023
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 05/22/2023
This report must be available at Child Care and Group Home facilities for public review for 3 years.
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 1 of 4
Control Number 51-CC-20230515135158
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 7575 METROPOLITAN DR STE 110
SAN DIEGO, CA 92108
FACILITY NAME: TAPROOT MONTESSORI PRESCHOOL
FACILITY NUMBER: 376105105
VISIT DATE: 05/22/2023
NARRATIVE
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Based upon information obtained during LPA's observations, record review and staff interviews it is determined that the facility was out of ratio as there were 16 toddlers with one staff member (Title 22 regulation ratio is 6:1) and 33 preschoolers with two staff members (Title 22 regulation is 12:1). The facility was substantially out of ratio at time of inspection. LPA reviewed staff records and found Director Margarita Camargo has not completed infant/toddler units and was alone with the 16 toddlers on that side of the playground and was not fully qualified. The allegations are valid because the preponderance of evidence has been met, therefore the allegations are found to be SUBSTANTIATED.

LPA Keturah Lane informed facility representative Nicole Hall (owner) that this report dated 5/22/23 documents 2 Type A citations (and 1 Type B citation) which shall be posted for 30 consecutive days as there is an immediate risk to the health, safety, or personal rights of children in care.

Also, LPA Lane informed the facility representative to provide a copy of this licensing report dated 5/22/23 that documents any Type A citations to parents/guardians of all children currently enrolled by the next business day or the next day the children are in care, and to any newly enrolled parents/guardians for 12 months from the date of this report. A signed Acknowledgement of Receipt of Licensing Report (LIC 9224), or other written statement, must be placed in the child's file for verification.

Exit interview conducted and report was reviewed with facility representative Nicole Hall (Owner). A notice of site visit was given and must remain posted for 30 days.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Monica Cuddy
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Keturah Lane
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 05/22/2023
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 05/22/2023
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 2 of 4
Control Number 51-CC-20230515135158
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 7575 METROPOLITAN DR STE 110
SAN DIEGO, CA 92108

FACILITY NAME: TAPROOT MONTESSORI PRESCHOOL
FACILITY NUMBER: 376105105
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 05/22/2023
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type A
05/23/2023
Section Cited
CCR
101216.3(a)
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101216.3 Teacher-Child Ratio (a)
There shall be a ratio of one teacher visually observing and supervising no more than 12 children in attendance...this requirement was not met as evidenced by...
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Owner Nicole Hall stated she will provide a written plan to LPA Lane by 5/23/23 that will ensure that ratios are met. E-mail: Keturah.Lane@dss.ca.gov
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Based upon LPA observation and sign in/out sheets, there were 33 preschool children with only two staff members which is an immediate health, safety and personal rights risk to children in care.
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Type A
05/23/2023
Section Cited
HSC
1596.955(a)(3)
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1596.955 Child Day Care Centers...(a) This optional toddler program shall be subject to...(3) A ratio of six children to each teacher is maintained for all children in attendance at the toddler program...This requirement was not met as evidenced by...
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Owner Nicole Hall stated she will provide a written plan to LPA Lane by 5/23/23 that will ensure that ratios are met. E-mail: Keturah.Lane@dss.ca.gov
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Based upon LPA observation and sign/in out sheets, there were 16 toddlers with only 1 staff member in the playground area which is an immediate health, safety and personal rights risk to children in care.
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Failure to correct the cited deficiency(ies), on or before the Plan of Correction (POC) due date, may result in a civil penalty assessment.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Monica Cuddy
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Keturah Lane
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 05/22/2023
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 05/22/2023
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 3 of 4
Control Number 51-CC-20230515135158
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 7575 METROPOLITAN DR STE 110
SAN DIEGO, CA 92108

FACILITY NAME: TAPROOT MONTESSORI PRESCHOOL
FACILITY NUMBER: 376105105
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 05/22/2023
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type B
06/05/2023
Section Cited
CCR
101416.2(c)(1)(A)
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101416.2 - Infant Care Teacher Qualifications and Duties (c)To be a fully qualified infant care teacher, a teacher shall have the following: Completion, with passing grades, of 12 postsecondary semester or equivalent quarter units in early childhood...(A) At least three of the units required in (c)(1) above shall be related to the care of infants or shall contain instruction specific to infants. This requirement was not met as evidenced by...
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Owner Nicole Hall stated she will provide written plan or correction 6/5/23 via e-mail which will ensure that infant/toddler qualifications are met.
Keturah.Lane@dss.ca.gov
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Based upon LPA observation and staff record review, none of the three teachers present at time of inspection have completed units related to care of infants or toddlers which is a potential health, safety and personal rights risk to children in care.
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Failure to correct the cited deficiency(ies), on or before the Plan of Correction (POC) due date, may result in a civil penalty assessment.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Monica Cuddy
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Keturah Lane
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 05/22/2023
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 05/22/2023
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 4 of 4